Inside Windows Product Activation

Conclusions

In this paper we have given a technical overview of Windows Product Activation as implemented in Windows XP. We have shown what information the data transmitted during product activation is derived from and how hardware upgrades affect an already activated installation.

Looking at the technical details of WPA, we do not think that it is as problematic as many people have expected. We think so, because WPA is tolerant with respect to hardware modifications. In addition, it is likely that more than one hardware component map to a certain value for a given bit-field. From the above real-world example we know that the PX-32TS maps to the value 0x37 = 55. But there are probably many other CD-ROM drives that map to the same value. Hence, it is impossible to tell from the bit-field value whether it is a PX-32TS that we are using or one of the other drives that map to the same value.

In contrast to many critics of Windows Product Activation, we think that WPA does not prevent typical hardware modifications and, moreover, respects the user's right to privacy.

About the authors

Fully Licensed GmbH is a start-up company focusing on novel approaches to online software licensing and distribution. Have a look at their website for more information. Their research branch every now and then analyzes licensing solutions implemented by other companies.

Copyright

Copyright (C) 2001 Fully Licensed GmbH (www.licenturion.com) All rights reserved.

You are free to do whatever you want with this paper. However, you have to supply the URL of its online version http://www.licenturion.com/xp/ with any work derived from this paper to give credit to its authors.